apworld - p2ch4social

Development and transformation of social structures

Civilization: Early Asian Societies

Name: Cameron Brown

Theme	How does this theme apply to your civilization?
Gender roles and relations	Hinduists believed that the Lawbook of Manu, along with examples throughout history, justified men to rule in a completely patriarchal society. "Sati" was the tradition that forced widows to join their husbands on the pyre as they were burned. Women were looked upon very lowly, and the majority of the castes allowed polygamy. Inter-caste marriages were almost always discouraged.
Family and kinship	Families were in the same castes together, and were usually treated in similar ways as well. Males were always favored over their female counterparts (regardless of social class). This is easily noted if one pays attention to the Hindu traditions of Sati and the marriage payment (Dowry) to the groom's family.
Racial and ethnic constructions	Since the social classes were based on birthrights, it was exremely hard for any kind of foreignerto enter into the Caste system successfully. Much like foreigners, members of one caste were unable to "change" to another caste; this made any type of social mobility extremely difficult. For the unlucky few that were disliked (women, foreigners, and Untouchables), the laws of Hinduism applied more loosely; this allowed others to treat them even worse.
Social and economic classes	The Caste System was based on a hereditary, unchanging tradition based on class distinction. As early as 1000 BCE, there are signs of four distinct social classes, which were known as "varnas." They consisted of brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors and aristocrats), Vaishyas (merchants and artisans), and Shudras (peasants). "Jatis," or sub-castes, were for people classified in certain occupational sections of each particular varna. The "Dalits," or "Untouchables," were born into a lifestyle much lower than peasantry, and were forced to do only the most menial tasks.